If only "Shoe" were still around to make a striking editorial comic about the shoe incident.

[pyat]

Hey, did you know that hurling shoes at someone’s head and calling them a dog is considered an insult in the Arab world? I know I was sure confused.

Man, those Orientals are so inscrutable at times.

Also, God Bless CNN for running an editorial entitled Hurling Shoes Doesn’t Help Iraq, an editorial that makes note of past historic events involving shoes. This was pretty much limited to mentioning Khrushchev’s tantrum during a UN debate.

Comments

[renface.livejournal.com]

As our friend Dave said earlier this week, "It's an insult in Arab culture? Really?? Because in Western culture, throwing your shoes is a warm greeting, right? What do you mean, your wife doesn't throw shoes at you when you come home from work?"

[thebitterguy]

Well, the thing is it's a really big one. It's a grave insult to show someone the sole of your shoe in a social setting.

As with pretty much anywhere, tossing anything at someone is a sign of disrespect. But throwing a shoe at some guy? That's with ane extra side of "fuck you".

Just like when the Yanks conquered Iraq, they had guys (Shiites, IIRC) smacking powers of Saddam with the soles of their shoes.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Yah, I know. It was sort of explained to death then as well. I was just getting sick of hearing it added as an postscript to every single story.